Justin McCarthy, Viscount Mountcashel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The 1st Viscount Mountcashel
Tenure	1689–1694
Born	c. 1643
Died	1 July 1694 Barèges, France
Spouse(s)	Arabella Wentworth
Father	Donough, 1st Earl of Clancarty
Mother	Eleanor Butler

Justin McCarthy, 1st Viscount Mountcashel (born around 1643 – died 1694), was an important general who supported King James II. He fought in the Williamite War in Ireland.

Justin McCarthy led Irish troops during this war. He had early success, capturing the town of Bandon in County Cork in 1689. However, he was later defeated and captured at the Battle of Newtownbutler that same year. He managed to escape and later led a group of Irish soldiers, known as the Irish Brigade, to serve in the French Army. He died while living in France.

Early Life and Family

Justin McCarthy was born around 1643, likely in Blarney, a town in County Cork, Ireland. He was the third son of Donough McCarthy and his wife, Eleanor Butler. When Justin was born, his father was known as the 2nd Viscount Muskerry. Later, in 1658, his father became the Earl of Clancarty.

Justin's father belonged to the MacCarty family of Muskerry. This was an old Irish family that came from the larger MacCarthy-Mor line. They were granted the Muskerry area as their special territory.

Justin's mother, Eleanor Butler, was the oldest sister of James Butler, who was a very powerful figure at the time. Her family, the Butlers, were known as "Old English" because their ancestors came from England but had lived in Ireland for a long time. Both of Justin's parents were Catholic.

Justin's Brothers and Sisters

Justin was the youngest of three brothers:

• Charles (born 1633 or 1634 – died 1665) was killed in a naval battle before his father died.
• Callaghan (born around 1638 – died 1676) later became the 3rd Earl of Clancarty.
• Justin (born around 1643 – died 1694).

Justin also had two sisters:

• Helen (died 1722) married twice.
• Margaret (died 1704) became the Countess of Fingall.

Growing Up During War

Justin was born during a time of conflict in Ireland called the Irish Confederate Wars. His family lived in the part of Ireland controlled by the Irish Confederacy, a group of Irish Catholics. Justin's father was an important leader in this group and commanded their army in the region of Munster.

When Justin was two years old, in 1645, his mother hosted a special visitor at Macroom Castle. This visitor was Giovanni Battista Rinuccini, who was sent to Ireland by Pope Innocent X. Justin's father disagreed with Rinuccini's involvement in Irish politics. When Rinuccini took control in 1646, Justin's father was held at Kilkenny Castle and lost his army command.

Life in Exile

In April 1650, Justin's family lost Macroom Castle, where he had spent his early childhood. Because of the ongoing wars, his father sent Justin, his mother, and his sisters to safety in France. His mother lived in a convent in Paris.

After the special visitor Rinuccini left Ireland, Justin's father continued to fight against the Parliamentarian forces during the Cromwellian Conquest of Ireland. Justin's father fought until the very end, finally surrendering Ross Castle in June 1652.

Justin McCarthy as a young man

In 1658, while Justin's father was living in exile in Brussels, King Charles II made him the Earl of Clancarty. This meant that the title of Viscount Muskerry became a lesser title, usually given to the Earl's oldest son and heir. So, Justin's older brother, Charles, was then called Viscount Muskerry.

Return to Ireland

The family's property had been taken away under the Cromwellian government. But when Charles II became king again in 1660 (an event called the Restoration), their property was given back to them.

Justin mostly grew up in France. He became a professional soldier and was very skilled, but his poor eyesight caused some problems for his career. In 1671, he joined the French army. He later served against the Dutch as part of the Duke of Monmouth's regiment, which was paid by the French.

In 1665, a war broke out between England and the Dutch. Justin's brother Charles, Lord Muskerry, was killed in a major naval battle in June 1665. Charles had a baby son, also named Charles, who then became the heir. However, Justin's father, the 1st Earl, died two months later. So, the baby Charles became the 2nd Earl of Clancarty. This young Earl died about a year later, in 1666, still a baby. After his death, Justin's other brother, Callaghan, became the 3rd Earl of Clancarty.

In 1678, Justin McCarthy came to England. He became good friends with James II, who would later become king. King Charles II decided to use Justin's military skills in Ireland and made him a colonel.

Serving King James II

When the Catholic King James II came to power, Justin McCarthy was promoted to Major General in 1686. He also became a member of the Privy Council of Ireland, a group of important advisors to the King in Ireland.

In 1688 or early 1689, he was made Muster-Master General in the Irish Army and the King's representative for County Cork.

On May 23, 1689, King James II gave Justin McCarthy the new title of Viscount Mountcashel. This title was part of what became known as the Jacobite peerage, titles given by King James II after he was removed from the throne.

Later in 1689, Lord Mountcashel, as he was now known, captured the towns of Castlemartyr and Bandon for King James. After Bandon was taken, there were some violent events, but Mountcashel convinced the King to offer a general pardon to those who had been defeated. He also met King James II when the King arrived in Kinsale and was ordered to gather seven regiments of soldiers. He also served in the Irish House of Lords in the Parliament of 1689.

With 3,000 men, he marched from Dublin towards Enniskillen, which, along with Derry, was one of the last places still fighting against King James II. He met 2,000 Protestant soldiers from Enniskillen at the Battle of Newtownbutler on July 31, 1689. Mountcashel's forces were defeated, and he was wounded and captured. He was allowed to leave on parole (a promise not to escape), but he broke his promise and escaped to Dublin.

After this, he went to live in France. There, he commanded the first Irish Brigade for King Louis XIV of France.

Marriage and Death

Justin McCarthy married Lady Arabella Wentworth. She was much older than him. They did not have any children that were officially recorded.

His eyesight continued to get worse, which made his later military career difficult. He died on July 1, 1694, in Barèges, France, where he had gone for his health. He was buried there. When he died, he tried to leave his property to a cousin, but it instead went to his niece Catherine. Later, her husband, Paul Davys, was given the title of Viscount Mount Cashell.

Timeline

Images for kids

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  Justin McCarthy as a young man

See also

In Spanish: Justin McCarthy para niños